Newsletter

Guest column: Maguire being 'smeared' for political reasons, will fight 'abusive government'

I’m writing to correct a false allegation being made against City Commission candidate Bruce Maguire. The story goes back in time. Nearly 20 years ago, the Santa Maria Restaurant infringed on riparian property rights that have been in my family for more than 65 years. We were forced to file a lawsuit in court to protect our property rights and the matter was resolved in our favor. At that time, the city of St. Augustine correctly recognized and supported our position.

The deed to our waterfront property came from an original Spanish land grant recognized by the U.S. government that extended the property to the low-tide mark, which is well east of the existing sea wall. Because of these grants, the Santa Maria Restaurant exists and owns its property, which is also east of the seawall and adjacent to our Bayfront Inn property.

Today, with a different political agenda, the city of St. Augustine has reversed its position and is attempting to confiscate property they do not own. This is an example of governmental bullying — using taxpayer dollars to pursue a political agenda without regard to private property rights.

The fact is my parents now have to spend their money to defend their property rights against a city government to which they pay considerable property taxes. It’s shameful.

But this is not nearly as unfair as the “smear campaign” trying to link Bruce Maguire to this lawsuit for political reasons. I initiated the legal action against the Santa Maria long before Mr. Maguire married my sister, Virginia.

Bruce was a highly effective St. Johns County Commissioner. He ran for re-election in 2006, but was “smeared out of office” by Tom Manuel and his political operatives. Manuel was the most arrogant and corrupt politician in St. Johns County’s history and fooled many people by spreading lies about Bruce Maguire. He served time in federal prison convicted of corruption. But some of these same political operatives are attempting to “fool the voters” again by claiming that Bruce Maguire is “suing the city.” Nonsense.

Don’t believe any attempts to link Bruce Maguire to the lawsuit between my parents and the city. That lawsuit is about stopping an arrogant government from taking property it does not own.

When government attempts to confiscate private property rights — they must be challenged and that fight can be costly. My family has been able to oppose this injustice, which is being perpetrated for political purposes and paid for with taxpayers’ money.

If you are a resident or property owner in the city, I can assure you that Bruce Maguire, unlike the current political authorities, will be fair and will protect and defend your rights. As law-abiding citizens, we are only trying to do what is right against the force of an abusive government.